Life can be a slipshod series of events that hammer our finances and beleaguer our state of health while at the same time blessing us with the naked beauty of a daffodil leaning forward to catch us unawares. I first noticed flowers when four-years old. I thought God had created them to smile at me on a bad day. I really thought all the flowers were God smiling at me to alleviate any suffering I felt over being given a rough-neck family.

I also believed the dog who followed me around all day was God’s emissary sent to look after my well-being. I have to confess to possessing lofty notions and a healthy self-esteem despite my mother constantly telling me I wouldn’t amount to much. The woman wore plastic sandals and rolled her stockings down to her ankles. I gave her words little notice. Her voice remained background noise throughout my childhood. I made a mental note to treat my own child with kindness. I even practiced on my dog.

I petted my dog frequently and gave him showers outside under a garden hose attached to the house. In retrospect, my good-natured dog tolerated these attentions with a sweetness not usually assigned to pit bulls. I insisted he enjoy the flowers as much as I did and even taught him life doesn’t get any better when surrounded by beauty while in good company. He agreed and we spent the better part of our days together and slept in the same bed at night.

Now, I consider my dog, Bodhi, a divine emissary sent to soften the rough edges of life. We enjoy the flower garden I planted for that purpose, exchange hugs, and allow life’s vagaries to ease silently into the night where they quietly disappear.